Program Overview

From its spectacular hilltop location, our field school aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the full range of practical skills involved in the archaeological process, including: single-context stratigraphic excavation/recording; drawing plans/sections; geophysics and topographic survey; archaeological photography/illustration; finds handling; and environmental sampling/processing. At 21 hectares, Penycloddiau hillfort is one of the largest pre-Roman Iron Age sites in the UK. Previous work suggests that similar large contour enclosures may be a very early type (c. 800-400 BC); as a result, our excavations aim to help date the very origins of the hillfort in western Britain.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Rachel Pope (rachel.pope@liv.ac.uk) is Lecturer in European Prehistory and Director of Fieldwork at the University of Liverpool Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology (est. 1904).  A recognized expert in prehistoric settlement, she has been excavating in the UK for over twenty years.

Student Fees

Program Costs

All fees are payable to the Institute for Field Research. Eight semester credit units are provided through Connecticut College. Program fee includes registration, accommodations, program activities, meals on workdays, and health insurance.

Airfare, weekend meals, and optional excursions are additional.

Financial Aid

Please inquire about Financial Aid at your home institution. For details about the financial aid application process, please visit the Financial Aid section of this web site.

Budgeting

How much to budget depends on your travel, entertainment and souvenir choices. It is always best to overestimate your spending. We recommend that you budget accordingly to cover optional sightseeing, laundry, internet cafes, emergencies, etc.

Expenses NOT Covered:

-Airfare to/from the pre-designated meeting place for the field school.
-Food on weekends when away from the site.
-Miscellaneous expenses.
-Sightseeing outside formal field school excursions as outlined on the syllabus.

Accommodations

Students will live in relative comfort in an outdoor centre in the picturesque village of Burwardsley, Cheshire. We have a well-equipped kitchen, modest communal space, indoor toilets, showers, and shared washing facilities, an outdoor seating area, and a campfire in the woods. Sleeping is in shared, single-sex bunk rooms. There is not a lot of room for storage and we request that you only bring one item of luggage, as space is restricted. Bedding is not provided, so please also bring a sleeping bag. There is lots of outdoor space for tents, and camping is recommended for those valuing their own privacy and personal space. There is a washing machine which will be available for use on our days off.

MEALS:

All meals will be communal and in the past, our dig chef has catered for vegetarian, vegan, and kosher diets, as well as wheat and lactose intolerance, and nut allergies. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Dinner will be served in the evenings at around 6.30 pm. There will be a rota for off-site communal-living tasks such as washing-up, preparing breakfast, cleaning, etc.

Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have special dietary needs, as well as any medical or physical conditions. We will advise you accordingly. The project is used to catering for vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance etc.

Travel Information

You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. Please plan to arrive at Liverpool or Manchester Airport by Sunday 21^st July 2013. Our administrator Jane Stockley (stocko@liverpool.ac.uk) will be collating all travel information, and we would encourage discussing your travel arrangements with her in advance.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

A passport with at least six months of validity remaining is required.  There are no visa requirements for US citizens visiting the UK.  You will be required to fill in a UK landing card upon arrival.

HEALTH ISSUES:

For specific information regarding travel health issues pertinent to England, please read the Centers for Disease Control Website. Click here to be directed to the CDC website.

Student Testimonials

“It’s been good to apply what I’d learnt during my first year of university. I feel I have learnt lots of new and useful skills and understand more about archaeology. I feel confident to be able to use these new skills on other digs."

-Student, University of Liverpool (2012)

“No other work experience or placement has developed my learning like this. I think that this is vital to any degree. It’s taken learning to the next level and you feel more like an archaeologist and less like a student.”

-Student, University of Liverpool student (2012)

"I had bags of fun and can’t wait to do it again soon. Things were well explained and there was a great atmosphere."  

-Student, University of Liverpool student (2011)